Obama vows to press for gun reform

Date: December 18 2012

Nick O'Malley, Newtown, Connecticut

HIS face etched with the effort of controlling his grief - and perhaps even his anger - President Barack Obama used a speech before the shattered people of Newtown to declare he would use his authority to change the way America protected its citizens from mass shootings.

''In the coming weeks, I'll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens, from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators, in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this, because what choice do we have?'' Mr Obama said.

''We can't accept events like this as routine.''

He did not directly mention guns, and did not detail what changes he would seek, but his language was remarkably frank given the sombre circumstances of the memorial service for Newtown's 26 dead.

''We can't tolerate this any more. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change,'' he said.

This was the fourth time he had addressed memorials for victims of mass shootings. But this was the first time at such an address that he declared he would pursue reform.

After six people were killed and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head in Tucson in January last year, Mr Obama won support across party lines for a speech many considered to be the finest of his presidency. In that speech he carefully avoided any mention of policy change, just as he did in an address after the killing of 12 and wounding of 58 by a gunman armed with a military-style semi-automatic rifle in Aurora, Colorado - only now, he emphasised the need to address the broader causes of violence.

He was also careful not to make it an issue in the election campaign, although it was raised in the second presidential debate when he gave some indication of what reform he might pursue. In an answer in the debate he said: ''Weapons that were designed for soldiers in war theatres don't belong on our streets.''

Hours before he spoke, Senator Diane Feinstein - who introduced laws banning these weapons in 1994 before Congress allowed bans to expire in 2004 - said she would introduce another similar bill on the first day of the new Congress.

It was this ban that made gun control such a terrifying issue for Democrats - 34 incumbents blamed their loss in the 1994 election on their signing the bill.

Since then many have criticised the ban as being too easy to beat - gun manufacturers simply built new models of the semi-automatic rifles it outlawed.

Other ways of federal gun control could include tightening regulations covering the screening of people buying guns. It has been reported, but not confirmed, that the killer tried to buy weapons last week before using his mother's gun to slaughter the Newtown children.

Sales made at gun shows are exempt from screening, and it is estimated 40 per cent of guns sold are bought at the shows.

Police confirmed the killer fired hundreds of rounds and shot all of his victims more than once in an eight-minute rampage. There has been little response from gun advocates. The National Rifle Association makes it a practice not to comment after mass killings.

It is clear Mr Obama's frank words to the people of Newtown have wedded him to gun law reform, and that as he begins his second term in office he has less to fear from the NRA.

He said: ''This is our first task, caring for our children. If we don't get that right, we don't get anything right. Can we say that we're truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose? If we're honest with ourselves, the answer's no.''

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